When a Vermont community pulls together

Breaking records in Rutland: Despite a population of just under 17,000 people, this small community outdid New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Manchester, N.H., which held the record of 1,968 pints of blood collected in a single day. (File photo 2012)

Dec. 17 was a bittersweet day for me. My little hometown had seen its fair share of hard times in recent years: allegations of misconduct by city police officers, deadly hit and runs, and what seemed like daily reports about a drug dealer in town heading to Marble Valley. Then, there were the three failed attempts at setting the national one-day record for blood donations. Officials said if we didn’t do it this year, we weren’t going to do it, period. But there’s something about the blood in this town.

Then, on Dec. 17, I was reminded why I choose to call Rutland home.

Despite a population of just under 17,000 people, this small community outdid New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Manchester, N.H., which held the record of 1,968 pints collected in a single day.

That was, until Rutland broke it.

The Gift of Life marathon, now in its 11th year, welcomed thousands of donors last week. With the help of nearly 500 Red Cross staff members and volunteers, Rutland collected 2,337 pints of blood.

What makes this year different from the other attempts? For one, Castleton State College became a main sponsor. Castleton’s President David Wolk drove donors on a shuttle bus to the five locations. Also, a change in state law now requires donors to be just 16-years-old. The former legislation required donors to be at least 18 years of age. These changes allowed 90 Rutland High School students to donate this year.

Last year, the drive came within 13 pints of the national record, said Wolk. While he noted the disappointment in coming so close, it also proved to him that there was potential. But no one anticipated how great it would feel once they reached it.

“This is such a statement by the greater Rutland community," said co-organizer Steve Costello from Green Mountain Power. “To outdo every single city and town in America is really mind-boggling.”

WJJR Program Manager Terry Jaye also shared his excitement about achieving the goal.

“I could not be more proud of the Rutland region,” he said. “Christmas begins tonight.”

When Rutland learned 11 years ago that one pint of blood could save three lives, they did the most logical thing they could think of; they rolled up their sleeves. The first year, they collected 360 pints, said Costello. Over a decade later, Rutland now holds three of the top four spots on the 10 biggest blood drives in United States history list.